SEPTA needs new state funding by Aug. 14 to prevent a planned round of deep service cuts from taking effect near the end of the month, transit agency officials said. The agency plans to post online new fall schedules that reflect a 20% overall cut in transit service. If the state money doesn’t come through, 32 bus routes will be eliminated and 16 others shortened beginning Aug. 24, along with reductions in the frequency of bus, trolley, subway and Regional Rail trips. The deadline, in theory, might spur progress in state budget negotiations in Harrisburg, but SEPTA officials said their motivation was to provide clarity to thousands of riders now looking to make travel plans. “We just want to be transparent,” said Jody Holton, chief planning and strategy officer at SEPTA. “People might assume Aug. 24 is our deadline, but it’s not. It takes at least 10 days … to implement the systems.” Fares would also rise by 21.5% on Sept. 1. A second round of service cuts would take place on Jan. 1, 2026, if needed.
Source: Philadelphia Inquirer; 8/6/2025